The Pattali Makkal Katchi (PNK) will shortly stage a dharma outside the Prime Minister’s residence in New Delhi to protest against what they call “the harassment of innocent civilians” in the M.M. Hills by men belonging to the Kamataka and Tamil Nadu Police Force in the process of hunting for sandalwood smuggler Veerapan.
The Special Task Force (STF) of the Kamataka and Tamil Nadu Police have been scanning the hills adjoing Mettur for the past four weeks in a bid to apprehend Veerapan, the notorious elephant poacher, and his associates.
According to PMK leaders, during the searches, the police forces from the two states opened fire, killing at least 13 persons and injuring an equal number of persons. Most of the persons killed and all the injured are innocent civilians claim the PMK leaders.
The Vanniyar based PMK has charged that: “Frustrated at the failure to capture Veerapan, the STF has been harassing people living in the hills by describing all of them as agents of Veerapan. On several occasions the police opened fire at pointblank range, killing the civilians.”
According to the PMK, “The STF covers up the crime by simply describing the deadas Veerapan’s associates. On more than one occasion, the bodies of the victims have been cremated by the police even without verifying the identities of the deceased.”
The PMK leaders further say that a vast majority of the people living in the M M Hills belong to the Vannlyar community. “They are being singled out and harassed only because they happen to be a Vannlyar.”
The latest incident of police highhandedness was reporteed on June 20, when Kamataka STF men opened fire on Tamil fishermen fishing in the Mettur Dam reservoir, seriously injuring two persons. Both the victims are now in critical condition.
According to reports reaching here, about 100 men and women, all possessing licenses of the state government, was fishing in the Mettur reservoir when some Karnataka STF men shouted at them in Kannada from across the bank. Since the Tamil fishermen did not understand Kannada they continued to attend to their chores, suddenly the policemen fired at them injuring two persons, 37yearold Natesan and Marimuthu (17). Later they picked them up and took them to the hospital. All the other fishermen fled fearing their lives.
The STF has also imposed curfew in several taluks in Mettur hills forcing people to starve in their homes, The only source of livelihood in the hills is collecting firewood and gathering hill products like honey, bamboo and small game, With an indefinite curfew imposed in the area people inhabiting the hills are being forced to Stay indoors, thus denying them food and water.
PMK leaders plan to highlight the plight of the hill people at their dharna in Delhi. The PMK delegation is also likely to meet MPs in a bid to persuade them to raise the matter in Parliament.
Article extracted from this publication >> June 25, 1993
